What's your favorite interview question?

Mine historically has been tell me your story but I've recently incorporated another one which is tell me about your biggest professional achievement.

I heard it somewhere recently and then I heard a CEO ask one of my candidates that question while he was interviewing her and I thought you know what, that's a really insightful question.

With this client I'm fortunate to participate in their interviews, it's a lot of fun and I get to learn more about them and of course my candidates.

It's also interesting to see different interview styles. Mine is very informal and I want you to tell me your story, I want to know who you are, the things that make you tick, turn you off, the types of management or red tape that you can't stand.

It's part of what helps me determine if you're a fit for my client. I don't want to pull someone out of the pan and into the fryer if you know what I mean.

So when I get on with a candidate, personally, I think it's a pretty easy conversation, of course I'm not doing the talking at that point. But I usually say to a candidate, walk me through your experience and if I have questions I'll let you know.

But now I'm asking this question as well.

What are your go to interview questions?

If you're a candidate, what are your answers?

I sat in a deposition once with a trial attorney and he absolutely dismantled the person he was questioning. After the meeting I asked him about his preparation and he told me he'd practiced all weekend, for a meeting that would impact his won loss record but not his future career path. And he prepared all weekend.

With what he actually wanted to say, the actual words he'd use and stories he'd tell, and questions he'd ask.

And he owned the conversation, was the most prepared person in the room, and it was evident to everyone there.

How long do you as a candidate prepare to answer basic interview questions?

From what I can tell, not terribly long.

If you were to search the most popular interview questions, do you have an answer for them? You should. Practice it with someone. Use your answer the first time you interview, if it isn't received well, come up with another answer, then try that one.

Being prepared for the most popular interview questions won't rule out every question, but it will have you prepared for most of them, and if it's the job you want, than it's worth it.